Model Kylie Bisutti, 21, has decided to leave Victoria’s Secret because it clashes with her Christian beliefs.
“My body should only be for my husband and it’s just a sacred thing,” Bisutti told FOX411′s Pop Tarts column. “I didn’t really want to be that kind of role model for younger girls because I had a lot of younger Christian girls that were looking up to me and then thinking that it was OK for them to walk around and show their bodies in lingerie to guys.”
Bisutti beat out 10,000 hopefuls in 2009 to win the Victoria’s Secret Model Search. She was 19 and recently married at the time.
“Victoria’s Secret was my absolutely biggest goal in life, and it was all I ever wanted career-wise. I actually loved it while I was there, it was so much fun and I had a blast. But the more I was modeling lingerie – and lingerie isn’t clothing – I just started becoming more uncomfortable with it because of my faith,” Bisutti told FOX411. “I’m Christian, and reading the Bible more, I was becoming more convicted about it.”
On Dec. 1, the day after the nationally televised Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in which Bisutti didn’t appear, the model posted to her Twitter page, “For all of you that were looking for me in the Victorias Secret runway show this year, I wasn’t in it. I have decided not to model lingerie Because I personally feel that I am not honoring God or my husband by doing it. My marriage is very important & with divorce rates rising I want to do everything I can to protect my marriage and be respectful to my husband. God graciously gave me this marriage and this life and my desire is to live a Godly faithful life, I don’t however judge others for what they do. Everyone is convicted on different levels.”
Bisutti hasn’t completely given up on modeling just yet. The beauty also posted to her Twitter page, “I am still modeling but only with brands that respect my decision not to wear lingerie. I am also doing TV work now
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About Tom Matlack
Forgive my cynicism, but I can’t help but wonder if her husband is guilting her with religion to hide his jealousy or discomfort with other men being able to see her wearing very little. I must admit that I’d probably be pretty uncomfortable and I’m not terribly religious. Notice, however, how she basically said that this decision is because her marriage hangs in the balance if she didn’t make this decision. Anyone else pick up on that subtext?
That said, if her convictions are true, I don’t fault her for acting on how she believes. I’ve just known too many people who have been (how do I say this nicely?) “changed” by a more religious spouse. I’m often skeptical of those who outwardly express their religious beliefs in the public sphere. Perhaps that’s because I’m not of an evangelical background…? (I am Catholic and given my faith’s history [anyone up for an inquisition?!] I’m not all about proselytizing or evangelism.)
I LOVE discussing the things you mention. I’m curious, what makes you skeptical of those who outwardly express their religious beliefs in the public sphere? Of course, I can’t blame you, but I also wonder how one of truth belief in Jesus could truly not do so. I came from a protestant background and would probably be labeled now as “evangelical,” although I don’t really “fit in” there either. I’m more one of what some call a “beyond evangelical.” There isn’t really a label for it, but this might help understand if you are really all that curious. http://frankviola.org/2012/01/18/evangelicalism2/
but anyways, I just wanted to ask you that question, ha!
Remember, Carrie Prejean, the Miss USA contestant who got attention because of her opposition to gay marriage? She started trying to market herself as an observant Christian. Then everyone started asking her if topless glamour photos and sexually oriented videotapes were consistent with Christian piety.
If she adheres to her Christian beliefs and believes in the Christian notion of “modesty,” I do not see how she can be any kind of model. All modeling that utilizes conventionally attractive, young white women is sexually oriented and titillating by design. Whether it is ridiculous undergarments, or skinny jeans, or turtlenecks, it is an exhibition of the body. And normally, they use bodies which are considered attractive to allure viewers and buyers.
Makes sense.
Good point. I know my own male mind, and my seeing a fully clothed model is no impediment to the sorts of mental images she’s hoping to prevent. If she switches to other forms of modeling, she is just shifting the sexual focus to new territory.
I dare say that being a fully clothed model versus a fully clothed women period, then, would cause many male minds to imagine sexual images. It’s impossible for a woman to really take responsible for the wandering thoughts of a male.
I don’t get it. Victoria’s Secret sells women’s clothing. Why would men be looking at the catalogs if the catalogs are for women’s clothing? Unless….wait….you don’t think….hold on…. are MEN the target audience for the catalog? I am shocked and surprised. I never would have imagined such a thing. This is the first I’m hearing about this phenomenon. Does the company know that a lot of the catalog viewers are men?
I’ll say it if no one else will: this makes her more attractive. Not so much because I think principles can be sexy, but the idea of being in her husband’s position makes it hot. I can only imagine that this will change the way the men in her congregation view her, literally or figuratively. Now they will have to use their imaginations when trying to picture her without any clothes on – no current photos of it anymore. This will actually be to those men’s benefit in the long run. Imagination is too undervalued as a masturbatory stimulant, and it’s important to be able to daydream during a long, boring sermon. I say this as someone who went to church every Sunday until I was 18. I can’t believe I’m the only churchgoer who was ever like this.
“I don’t get it. Victoria’s Secret sells women’s clothing. Why would men be looking at the catalogs if the catalogs are for women’s clothing? Unless….wait….you don’t think….hold on…. are MEN the target audience for the catalog? I am shocked and surprised. I never would have imagined such a thing. This is the first I’m hearing about this phenomenon. Does the company know that a lot of the catalog viewers are men?”
I am sure that the company must be aghast. Just like the publishers of “Playgirl” were shocked to learn that their audience was almost entirely homosexual men.
Well I suppose it would be quite difficult to protect a mans mind at all then, eh? Maybe that is why we are responsible for our own thoughts and actions…?
“Maybe that is why we are responsible for our own thoughts and actions…?”
Most would agree. Unfortunately, some value and belief systems assign the responsibility of one person’s thoughts and actions to other persons because those other persons supposedly “provoked” somebody else’s thoughts and actions.
It’s almost comical to see how some people are talking about how she should never had become a Victoria Secret Model if this is how she felt, or how her husband must be pressuring her, as if we’ve all had EVERYTHING figured out, by the time we were 21.
People tend to grow in their beliefs as they become older. Most of us didn’t have fully formed beliefs on all aspects of life until we are older, get married and have children. Even then, we are still growing, still learning and start to realize that maybe some aspects of our lives need a change.
I applaud her for realizing that maybe fame and fortune are NOT the most important things in life and her putting her family and her faith first should be applauded and congradulated.
She is missing a chance at one of the greatest evangelical opportunities ever. Picture it: a giant tattoo on her stomach: “John 3:16″ just like the guy in the endzone. Or “GOD” with the “O” encircling her bellybutton.
TRUE
In my opinion, she is being extremely hypocritical.
How can anyone hold Christian beliefs while at the same time be hurdling through space on a planet that is over 4 billion years old? That she may or may not be wearing lingerie while doing so is really beside the point.
This is the best post I’ve read on internet for years! Short but so true; It is sad that so many people on earth just cannot understand this very simple point.
Ah, but don’t you see, God planted that scientific evidence in order to test our faith. He planted so much of this scientific evidence suggesting billions of years that the test is really, really hard to pass. You gotta really really work at it, really let faith take over other parts of your mind, if you want to pass this test, and it sounds like you’re failing. ; – )
Instead, I think you’re supposed to go with the calculations of the Bishop Ussher from the seventeenth century. Using a Bible and some simple math, he calculated that the universe began at 9am, October 23, 4004 BC.
The good news is, if you’re swallowed by a big fish or whale, there’s a good chance you’ll survive if you’re a true believer. And, I have to say I like the idea of turning water into wine. Pinot Noir, if I get to make a request.
In defence of the religious people I know who aren’t idiots – a lot of Christian people I know believe in evolution. They just think God got the ball rolling, so to speak.
But that was still damn funny.
There are MANY Christians who do not believe in a “young” earth or in a literal interpretation of Genesis. I’d venture to say they are in the majority.
This is very true. Pope John Paul II actually said at one point that everything before the Big Bang is the province of religion, and everything after is a question of science. That’s quite a big revolutionary statement that hasn’t gotten the attention that it warrants. And a few popes before him admitted, yeah, okay, that Galileo guy was right after all.
How are you so sure the earth is billions of years old?
Radiometric analysis of terrestrial, lunar and extra-terrestrial rocks and minerals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earth
That is what I supposed. There is lots of research out now discussing the inaccuracy of radiometric dating. It’s quite intriguing.
Some trite discussion of a lingerie model becomes a segue for every possible agenda. Hooray. I’m sure that your “lots of research” are a fun and beloved secret.
I’m not quite sure what kind of tone that comment had. I’m sorry if it seemed I was pushing an agenda. I was only responding. I certainly didn’t read this article assuming I’d be pushing any kind of agenda. I just saw opportunities as others had already made comments, which DID seemed pretty unrelated to the topic at hand, and I thought I may as well respond.
http://www.specialtyinterests.net/carbon14.html
http://trueorigin.org/dating.asp
I wasn’t trying to give false information.
The tone is neither here nor there. The posts that you were responding to were poking fun at the subject’s alleged piety by mocking how other common things are at odds with certain religious doctrines. Anyway, when persons claim that there is “lots” of evidence for something, but then are coy in presenting it, then nobody is obliged to give it credence.
http://www.specialtyinterests.net/carbon14.html
http://trueorigin.org/dating.asp
I totally agree, Megalodon, and thought I had included those links in my first post, and realize I did not. Thanks.
I love the “Helping fight evolution” link at the top of the “specialtyinterests.net” page. One wonders why you simply did not refer us to answersingenesis.org. Oh, wait. There it is at the bottom of the specialtyinterests page, along with links to trueorigin and creationscience.
I myself would not want to offend you by referring you to “partisan” websites from the outset. But that is apparently okay.
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dating.html
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-age-of-earth.html#creacrit
http://gondwanaresearch.com/hp/paleosol.htm
This is a direct refutation of the Plaisted “Dating Game” article on the trueorigin site.
http://www.tim-thompson.com/plaisted-review.html
http://www.tim-thompson.com/plaisted-review2.html
http://www.tim-thompson.com/plaisted-review3.html
But there are some sources that care about the sensibilities of Christians.
http://www.asa3.org/ASA/resources/Wiens.html
It’s neither interesting nor intriguing nor “lots.”
Look, I was an ordained member of the Seventh Day Adventists, who were the originators of the pseudo-scientific young earth creation theory. They were the ones responsible for the “research” questioning the methods of determining age, and their principle method was to attack radio carbon dating. The “Creation Scientists” took this ball and ran with it.
But here’s the thing: they’re not scientists. They admit they’re not specialists in the fields they’re questioning. They admit the purpose of their attacking the science is to show the truth of the bible. They admit that the reason you should believe them is because God is on their side.
They lie. They lie about the “conflict” among scientists about evolution. There is no dispute among scientists about the “if” of evolution. There is no dispute among scientists about the “how long” of evolution. The research in question now revolves around the “how exactly.”
There is no dispute about radiometric dating. Scientists agree that it is not a precise measurement, but by “precision” they’re talking about ±20%, not ±10000%. The creation “scientists” would have you believe that the methods are so inaccurate that they might be off by five or six orders of magnitude. That’s just nonsense.
Scientists don’t have an agenda to prove Christianity wrong. A lot of the early scientists were Christians. It just so happens that all of the science points to an old earth and none of the science points to a young earth.
There was a time when heliocentricity was in dispute. It wasn’t disputed among the scientists – many had independently determined that the sun was at the center of our solar system. The dispute always has been and always will be among religions where our scientific knowledge comes into conflict with their scriptural understanding.
This isn’t a problem for all Christians. There are many who have no problem reconciling the bible against scientific knowledge. They see the genesis stories as metaphor for the creation of the universe, and see God as the instigator of the actual creation of the universe as we know it, with the apparent age that we see, a “prime mover” if you will. It’s only those Christians who need the bible to be inerrant in all things, for the creation story (the flood story, the Jericho story…) to be literally true, who have a problem with our scientific understanding of the universe.
I remember having a problem believing in the relativity of time. How is it possible that time can be faster or slower in space than on earth? Then I learned about different theories of time (A-theory and B-theory). And then I did the math, and the math works. And the math is not just theoretical – the math is what allows a ballistic missile launched from a cruise ship to reach its target with precision. The math is what makes the GPS unit in your phone possible.
But when I was religious, my religious indoctrination wouldn’t allow me to see that the science just works. I was told that “doubt” was a seed planted by the devil. I was told not to listen to science or reason – those too were of the devil. Instead I was to believe everything written in this book was true. The reason I could believe the book was true is because the book said it was true. And of course since I couldn’t prove the book wasn’t true without using rational thought, it must be true.
I feel sorry for people who still fall prey to that nonsense. I really do. But I’m not out to de-convert them, that’s just not my style. Instead I’m more interested that they not push their religious dogma in the public sphere. I’ve got no (real) problem with the fact that you don’t “believe” the science around the age of the universe, just don’t try to teach my kids that nonsense in the public schools.
I appreciate this. Thanks for pushing back. I didn’t need to come on strong, because I am totally undecided about the young v. new earth. I also do not think it makes much difference to my belief about the Bible. Like many others, I’m not convinced the 6 day creation was meant literally.
This is probably just my cynicism talking, but this announcement sounds like a celebrity bailing out before a crash, or a politician leaving office to “spend more time with his family” before the scandal breaks. It’s an unassailable excuse, one of those “aww, that’s sweet” moments that only the most cynical (ahem) would ever challenge. Although, to be fair, it’s hard to imagine what she could have done that would be more scandalous than Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell. I’m guessing something much more mundanely embarassing, like an ugly, chronic skin condition. Or perhaps in the world of Victoria’s Secret modeling, 21 is the age of grizzled veterans.
Cynical or not, at least it’s an announcement that’s grammatically correct and makes some sort of logical sense. It uses complete sentences and appeals to principle. It’s a classy move, whether sincere or not. No matter what is going on, she is probably making the most out of a challenging situation.
And, there’s something to be said for leaving a career or a job at the apex, going out on a high note.
P.S. If only her husband gets to see her in lingerie, then maybe now is the time to talk about polyandry, i.e., having multiple husbands? Perhaps millions of husbands. If marriage is so wonderful and sacred, wouldn’t more of it be better than less of it? : – )
Personal choice. Free country. Why is it anybody’s business?
I feel sorry for her. Making big decisions and sudden life changes is a really bad idea when just starting to read the bible its when you are most unstable and judgement is impaired because you don’t have the whole story or understanding yet.. People make unnecessary self destructive decisions only to find they were fine just as they were or end up in a dangerous cult., before understanding life is no better and your eventuality is the same serving god or not all is vanity and striving after wind. Also he could run off with the Nanny, they could get divorced, he could be secretly gay. As she learns about the bible DON’T MAKE ANY SUDDEN CHANGES in lifestyle or big money decisions it takes people years to really understand and form your own opinions and be your own person spiritually till then people will jerk her around.
Probably pregnant dropped from her contract/fired by VS or another mormon or cult thing.
She says her body is for her husband’s eyes only.
Do you know what this means? Don’t you see what’s happening, people? The Taliban have infiltrated the heart of the American media industry! The war in Afghanistan is going much worse than anyone thought. Not sure how drone strikes are going to help in this case.
Yeah, I know, whatever, the Taliban are Muslim and she says she’s a Christian, but if it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck….
She’s not American. She’s an Aussie and VS is an English company.
Like anything else, religion is a journey. People grow in it at different rates. Just because she wanted to become a VS model and did, and now has decided it no longer fits into her life, doesn’t make her hypocritical. It will be interesting to see what kind of modeling she does do. Some ads can be very provocative with a fully dressed woman. But the journey is still hers. A Christian will be the first to tell you they aren’t perfect. Doesn’t make them any less Christian or hypocritical if their heart is sincere.
thanks for being a voice of reason on this comment stream.
yes THANKS. I was about to be sick if there wasn’t someone with a decent comment sooner or later, although I do enjoy the banter. People who think Christianity is bogus are probably the most interesting to chat with! Anyways, I comment her for the step she took for whatever reason she did. I don’t know why people have such issues with Christianity if it isn’t true anyways. Or wait…could it possibly be? and could it be that it tends to ruffle some feathers…get under some peoples’ skin? Because if it IS true, then what? hmm…
I meant to say that I “commend” her.
It’s arrogance and ignorance to think that what ruffles feathers is the possibility that Christianity might be true. You don’t hear atheists railing against the Jains or Buddhists for one simple reason: those religions aren’t trying to insert themselves in our court houses, in our schools, and in our state houses. They’re not blowing shit up in the name of their preferred deity, and they’re not legislating the activities I can engage in consensually in my bedroom. They don’t show up on my doorstep with tracks, they don’t make moral pronouncements about the evils of homosexuality while renting a boy on the side. Quite simply, their religion is a deeply held personal conviction, and if Christians followed that model I wouldn’t care what they believed.
Interesting. I mostly agree with you and will have to write more later. (if you don’t mind)
” Or wait…could it possibly be? and could it be that it tends to ruffle some feathers…get under some peoples’ skin? Because if it IS true, then what? hmm…”
Assuming that something is true because it provokes hostility or opprobrium may be a dubious assumption. The Westboro Baptist Church “tends to ruffle some feathers” when they chant that child murder victims are doing to hell. Does that mean that the Westboro Baptist Church’s teachings are true?
I apologize. I should not have asked why people have issues with Christianity. There are endless reasons for anyone and everyone to have issues with Christianity. I should have said the teaching of Jesus and Jesus himself. I personally do not think Jesus and his teachings are the issue. People and the way they live out their so-called religious beliefs are the problem.
And of course just because hostility is provoked by something does not mean it is true. Good point. I deserved to be called out on that bold statement.
Thaddeus in Brazil, are you still out there?
If not, I am willing to guess what you might say here: compared to what women here in Brazil wear on a regular basis, I don’t see what the big deal is. Only her husband is allowed to see her bare midriff? Why is a bare stomach considered sexually provocative? What she wears on stage is what Brazilian women wear to go grocery shopping. You North American WASP’s are so uptight.
How’d I do? : – ) I mean this imitation as the sincerest form of flattery. I’m caricaturing what I think is actually a very good point that I would agree with. (It’s not an ad hominem attack, I swear! Feel free to caricature me in reply.)
Indeed, where is Thaddeus
What I can’t get over is the way she stated that being a Victoria’s secret model is all she’s ever wanted to do but she’s giving it up for her marriage. The message I take from all this is to give up our dreams for a man. I can’t think of a more damaging message to send young girls. A marriage that really works is often based on the sharing of dreams. if you don’t have the same ideas for the future one or both of you is never going to be happy in that future. The only good thing I can take away from this is as a general rule, people jut shouldn’t get marriage at such a young age
I think this is the part of it that bugs me too. It’s either saying ‘give up your dreams for a man,’ or ‘give up your dreams for religion.’ Either way it’s a negative message to send. People have a right to not do certain jobs because of their religion, so that doesn’t bug me. She has a right to quit because she’s becoming a more fundamental Christian, (not in a bad way necessarily). But the way she posted it on Twitter and the way she framed her announcement, as if she was stopping her life to focus everything onto her marriage was troublesome.
I thought the same thing. Giving up your one big dream because you got married?
Of course, if *becoming* a VS model was her big dream, she achieved it, so maybe there’s a sort of “been there, done that” aspect to it.
And, we have to consider her age. She says at 19 being a VS model was all she ever wanted. She was only 19. How long could she have been dreaming about it? 4 years maybe? A lifelong dream at 19 is not exactly a lifelong dream at 49. (If she had been dreaming about being a VS model since she was 5, then there are much bigger problems here….)
I can understand the principle of it, but I wonder where it ends. No bikini when she goes to the beach? No aerobics classes with any men in the room? No going to see a male doctor? Only modeling hejabs and burqas?
Perhaps it isn’t a matter of her stopping her life to focus everything into her marriage. Perhaps it’s a matter of her starting her life to focus on something she considers more valuable then a career with VS?
I think dreams can change. I know they have for me. I value things different now then I did when I was 21. Maybe she just reached this point quicker then I had. I know that for the right guy, I would give up a career to focus on my marriage and family. And I wouldn’t feel degraded for that. Infact, I think the kind of lifestyle where I could focus on my marriage and family would be more fulfilling then any career. Isn’t today about have the freedom to make our own choices whether they be successful careers or families or both? And having the freedom to adjust our lives when certain things no longer apply without judgement?
“Isn’t today about have the freedom to make our own choices whether they be successful careers or families or both? And having the freedom to adjust our lives when certain things no longer apply without judgement?”
No, it isn’t. The day that you describe will never come.
Whereas I think the message young people should glean is: have bigger dreams. Whether modeling lingerie is okay or not, whether submitting to one’s spouse is applauded or lamented, I hope that neither would be the solitary goal of her life.
Good for her, I’m pround of her decision. We need more young peolpe to stand up for there believe. You Go Girl and may God Bless you.
I admire your conviction. Some of the above remarks show that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him…May the Lord bless you as you delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Yeah, see, this is why I’m not likely to spend any time over at the GWP site.
I think that’s kind of selfish of her. She entered a contest to be an UNDERWEAR MODEL. Victoria’s Secret sells UNDER WEAR. If she was sooo modest then how did she win? Because she looks good in underwear and swim suits. That’s what models do,t hey model a companies products. if she was that modest she’d have done regular catalog work, not high end.